Means for making coated rod-like articles



Jan. 14, 1936. N H, E g 2,028,083

MEANS FOR MAKING COATED ROD LIKE ARTICLES Filed NOV.. 24, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet l 12 r 6 45 34? K A;

INVENTQR J; h n M wbil'ahws BY R 3- NJ J AT'l oRNEYs.

Jan. 14, 1936. J. N. WHLTEHOUSE 8, 3

MEANS FOR MAKING COATED ROD LIKE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 24, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I,

.... '.-I./' mu II Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR MAKINGCOATED ROD-LIKE ARTICLES John N. Whitehouse, New York, N. Y. ApplicationNovember 24, 1933, Serial No. 699,549

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for-and methods ofmaking coated rodlike articles, and more particularly tomeans for andmethods of applying strips or ribbons of cellulose material in spiralfashion to a rod-like core.

In the manufacture of rod-like articles, such as fountain pen barrels,umbrella handles, and the like, it has been customary to construct thearticle of laminated material for the reason that some types ofmaterials are considerably more expensive than .other types.Consequently, cheaper materials have been used as the cores of thearticles, and more expensive materials as the outer coats of sucharticles. Various methods have been used for applying coats of expensivematerial to cores, but such methods have involved objectionablefeatures, such as difiiculty to operate and the expense involved in themanufacture. l

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedmethods for wrapping a strip or ribbon of cellulose material about acore.

, Another object of the invention is to provide methods for so wrappinga strip of material about a core as to have the material therearound inspiral fashion.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods for wrapping astrip of material in spiral fashion about a core and simultaneously I sosecuring the strip to the core that a finished article presents asubstantially homogeneous structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for carrying themethod of coating a core set forth hereinbefore.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for rotating'acore together with a tool for feeding strip material to the core to bewrapped therearound, so that the finished article has a spiral coatingof strip material therearound.

A still further object of the, invention is to provide a tool for theuse stated, of. such character that wrapping of the strip material aboutthe core is accomplished at uniform rate and cementing of the stripmaterial to the core is accomplished simultaneously with the wrapping.

In carrying out the present invention, use is made of a suitable machinefor rotating a core. Such machines may be any one of many characters solong as it provides means for rotating a core together with means foradvancing a combined core supporting means and solvent containersupporting means as the core is rotated. The rotation means may, ifdesired, include reverse mechanism for returning the core and solventcontainer supporting means back to the original position after a corehas been wrapped. The core supporting means which moves as the core isrotated, consists of a member having an opening therein, which openingis coaxial with the power member utilized for rotating the core.

In addition to this opening, the supporting memcured an enlargementhollowed out for the'major portion to aninternal diameter substantiallythe same as the external diameter of the core which is to be wrapped. Atone end the bore is provided with an angularly extending termination,and the tool is provided with a semi-tubular seat adjacent this angulartermination, such seat being of a radius greater than that of the boreby an amount equal to the thickness of the strip of material to bewrapped around the core. The shoulder between the bore and the seatforms a guide for aligning thestrip as it is fed into position to bewrapped around the core. The strip itself is fed along the length of thehandle, and in order that proper tension may be applied to the strip asit is wrapped around the core, a frictional tension member which pressesthe sheet to the handle is provided. Spaced from the bore at the end ofthe handle is an adjustable guide member which serves to align the stripalong the handle as it isfed into wrapping position.

A conduit for supplying solvent to the strip immediately prior to'itscontact with the core is connected to the solvent container on themovable supporting member, preferably by means of a flexible tube. Inorder that the flow of solvent can be accurately controlled, a stopmember is provided on the underside of the handle in such position thatit can engage the flexible tube and compress the same to such an extentas to cut off the supply of solvent to the supply nozzle which isfastened rigidly to the handle. A spring normally forces this memberinto position compressing the tube. This tool can be designed to be heldmanually during the operation, or if desired, suitable arrangements canbe made for supporting the tool movably along with the travellingsupporting member. The control of the supply of solvent is preferably ofa manual character, but this construction naturally is not es sential.

The strip material used to coat cores in accordance with the presentinvention, may be of suitable cellulose material; by which is meantnitrated or acetated cellulose material, or similar material. Throughoutthe specification and claims wherein the term rod-like article or coreis used, it is to be understood that this term refers to cores orarticles which may be hollow or which may be solid and which may havecylindrical exteriors or exteriors of other suitable configurations.Furthermore, the core may be made of a cellulose material if desired, orin some instances, it will be advantageous for the core to be made ofwood or of metal, or of any other suitable material. When the core ismade of some cellulose material, the strip when wound thereupon will beso secured to the core due to the use of a solvent that a substantiallyhomogeneous structure is formed-as a finished article. When the core isof such material that the solvent will not act thereupon, the spiralstrip will still be .secured thereto due to the flowing together of theedges of the spiral following the application of a solvent, and also bythe shrinkage of the strip around the core after the solvent dries.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent by reference to the following detailed description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of thesame, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation of a suitable form of mechanism forrotating a core with the tool of the invention shown in position to beused in wrapping a strip of material around the core.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the tool in position toaccomplish thewrapping of the sheet about the core.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4. is a section taken substantially on the .line 44 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the tool.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 65 of Fig. 3 withthe core and strip omitted.

Referring now to the drawings, l0 indicates generally mechanism fortransferring power from a motor H to a .rotatable driving member "i2 anda rotatable screw member l4. Mechanism i2 is supported upon a base 15and a supplemental base l6 cooperates therewith to support operatingparts thereof. Inasmuch as the particular mechanism indicated at I!) andincluding gearing of various types forms no part of the presentinvention, it is not illustrated in detail herein. The only requirementis that the rotating head I 2 be driven simultaneously with the rotatingscrew M. A handle 11 serves to control the direction :of rotation ofthescrew [4.

Extending between the base I 5 and the base I6 are guide rods I8. Therods I8 pass through the bottom l9 of a supporting member 20. A portion21 of the supportingmember is hollowed out and internally threaded forthe reception of the screw M. The supporting member 20 extends upwardlyto a point above the axis of the rotatable member i 2 and is providedwith a platform or table 22 and with a vertical plate 24 having anopening 25 which is coaxial with the rotatable member 12. Table 22serves as a support for a solvent container 25.

The end of the rotatable member I2 is hollowed out as shown in Figure 1for the reception of one end of a rod-like member or core 21.-Diametrically opposite openings are provided in this member I2 throughwhich pass a pin 28 which also passes through the end of the core 21.

In conjunction with the power mechanism described, use is made of a toolindicated generally at 30. This tool is in the nature of a flat strip ofmaterial, preferably metal, one end of which is shaped to provide ahandle 31.. The other end of the member is provided with a depression 32extending across the end in an angular direc tion. Securely butremovably fastened in the depression 32 is a guide member indicatedgenerally at v1-34, part of said guide member being in the nature of atube 35 having a bore of such diameter as to fit snugly around the core21. The remaining part of the member 34 is of semitubular form asindicated at 36. The tube 35 is cut off at right angles to the axisthereof as at '31, down to the top edges of the semi-tubular part 3'6.However, the semi-tubular portion 36 is provided with a part 38 of thesame radius as the .tubular portion 35., which part 33 terminates in .anangular shoulder 39 as shown clearly in Figure 2. The remainder of thesemi-tubular portion 35 has an internal radius slightly greater than theradius of the tubular portion 35, the difference in radii of these twoparts being approximately equal to the thickness of the strip ofmaterial to be wound upon the core. This shoulder 39 serves as a guidefor aiding in fitting the strip into position to be Wound spirallyaround the core.

A plate-like guide member 40 is provided with a slot M through whichpasses a set screw 42 threaded into the handle 30. One end of the member55 is substantially U-shaped as at 44 to overlie one edge of a strip orribbon 45 which passes over the member 40, when it is fed into wrappingposition. By means of the slot 4| and the set screw 42, the position ofthe guide member 40 can be adjusted. Pivotally secured to the tool 35 bymeans of a bolt 46 is a tension member 41 having an arm 48 and a handle'49. The arm 48 is so constructed and attached to the member 35 as to beforced towards the upper surface of this member 30. Pins 50 are sosecured to the arm 48 that the heads thereof will .bear against thestrip or ribbon 4'5 when the arm is in position shown in full lines inFigure 2.

A solvent supply tube has a portion thereof secured beneath the member30 by means of a clip 56, and has another portion which passes throughthe member 35 at 5! and extends in circular form as at 58 to a positionwhere it will discharge solvent upon this strip or ribbon 45 from thedischarge-end 59. The tube 55 which is preferably made of some metal, isconnected to the solvent container 26 by means of .a flexible conduit 60which may be made of some suitable material, such as rubber, and whichis of suitable length. In order that the flow of solvent .from thecontainer to the discharge opening of the rigid tube 55 may becontrolled, use is made of a simple out 01f arrangement which consistsof a lever 5| pivotally secured to the underside member 3 5 as at '52.One end (i l of the lever 5! is so shaped and of such size as to be ableto bear against the flexible tube 60 as shown clearly in Fig. 5. Theother end 55 of the lever 6| is shaped into a handle which is normallyforced away from the handle Si by means of a spring 66. When the handleis forced away from the handle 3! as shown in Fig. 4, the end 65 of thelever 61 so compresses the ribbon before the ribbon contacts with thethe'fi'exible tube 50 as to cut off the flow of solvent from thecontainer to the discharge end 59. I

The operation and use of the mechanism and the tool described issubstantially as follows: With the rotatable member l2 stationary andwith the supporting member in position near thereto, a core 21 is passedthrough the'opening 25 and then through the bore35 of the tool'3il. Oneend of a strip or ribbon 45 issecured to the end of the core 21 bypassing the pin 28 through the ribbon and through the core, whichmanoeuvre at the same time fastens the core and strip to the rotatablemember l2. The strip is passed around 7 the core and between the coreand the seat provided by the semi-tubular member 36. The strip then.extends along the tool passing the handle 3! in which position. itisheld by moving the tension arm 48 from the dotted line position ofFigure 2 to the full line position of the same figure. a r

Power is then applied to rotate the member l2 and to simultaneouslyrotate the screw l4. Rotation of the member l2 causes rotation of core21, which latter rotation draws the strip 45 under the brake arm 48 intotheseat 36 and around the core 2-? in spiral fashion. As the windingoperation begins, the operator presses the handle 65 toward the handle 3I, thereby permitting the flow 'of solvent from the container out of thedischarge opening 59 and onto the strip 45. As willbe seen, thisdischarge opening is so positioned that solvent is applied to the stripimmediately priorto its contact with the core. Asa result of suchapplication of solvent, the strip which is preferably of some cellulosematerial, either nitrated or acetated, or any similar preparation,becomes slightly plasticwith the result that the contacting edges of thespiral flow together, and if the core 2? is of cellulosematerial, thestrip and the core also flow together. As the rotation continues, thesupporting member 2| moves outward 1 along the core 21 whichis supportedby the plate 24 through which it passes. This movement, of course,carries thesolvent container in the same direction. -If the tool is heldmanually by the operator, it will be seen that the close fit between thecore and the bore and between the coated core and the seat 36 willresult in the tool moving along the core as the core is rotated.

Correct positioning of the strip around the core during the windingoperation is assured by the shoulder as, which is of such angularity asto cause a close spiral wind to be made. This angularity depends uponthe width of the strip and ent size.

upon the size of the core being covered. As before stated, the variationin radii between that of the bore 35 and that of the seat 36 issubstantially equal to the thickness of the strip 45, so that as thestrip passes under the core and between the core and the seat, it isfirmly pressed against the core to correctly fasten i't thereto. Thetension arm 48 which really acts as a brake, serves to keep the stripunder tension as it is wound around the core, so that no wrinkles willbe formed in the spiral. V

The guide member 40 naturally can be adjusted to accommodate. variouswidths of strips, and it is contemplated that the unitary bore 35 andseat 35 can be detached from the tool at any desired time so that otherunitary structures of similar character but different dimensions can befastened thereto to accommodate cores of differ- In the embodimentillustrated, the solvent discharge is shown as being so positioned as topermit the application of solvent directly to,

core. Naturally, the discharge opening could bepositioned to apply thesolvent directly to the core instead of to the ribbon if desired,ordirect- 1y onto both the strip and corev immediately prior 5 to theircontact. The same results will be produced i i At the completion of thewinding operation, the guide plate 24 passes beyond the end of the core21 almost concurrently with which the ribbon is completely wrappedaround the core. Power is cut off, the flow of solvent is cut off byreleasing handle 65, and the tool is disengaged from the core and thenthe completed coated rod-like member can be removed from the hollowedpart of the rotatable member 12. The mechanism can then: be reversed bymanipulation of the handle i! to move the supporting member 20 back toinitial position. When it reaches this position, another core andanother strip can be inserted in operative position and the processcompleted.

The tool shown is one which is designed primarily to be operatedmanually, that is it is held by the operatorduring the winding of thestrip around the core. It will be apparent, however, that this toolcould be supported by the supporting member 20 very readily and becarried by this member 20 as it advances along the core.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides anovel method of coating rod-like articles with strip cellulose material,and also provides apparatusfor carrying out this method with maximumsimplicity. By practicing this method with the apparatus disclosed, itis possible to produce rod-like articles coated with strip cellulosematerial, which articles may be hollow or solid as desired, and whichmay have cylindrical exteriors or exteriors of other configuration asoccasion may demand. In 40 view of the evident modifications which canbe carried out without departing from the spirit of the invention, it isto be understood that this invention is notto be limited by theillustrated embodiments, but it is to be limited only by the 45 scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, and a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, said tool having a bore fitting snugly around thecore and having an angular shoulder at one end of the bore to positionthe strip relative to the core as they contact.

2. Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, said tool having a bore fitting snugly around thecore and having an angular shoulder at one end of the bore to positionthe strip relative to the core as they contact, and a semitubular seatadjacent said shoulder for smoothing wrapped spirally tightly around thecore as the core is rotated, said tool having a bore fitting snuglyaround the core and having an angular shoulder at one end of the bore toposition the strip relative to the core as they contact, and means forapplying an adhesive prior to the contact of a strip with the core tobind the strip to the core.

4QApparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, said tool having a bore fitting snugly around thecore and having an angular shoulder at one end of the bore to positionthe strip relative to the core as they contact, and means carried bysaid tool for applying tension to the strip as it is wrapped around thecore.

5. Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material'to oneend of thecore, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, and a solvent deliverer carried by said tool andhaving its discharge opening positioned to discharge solvent onto saidstrip prior to its contact with the core.

6, Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, a core support movable along the core as itrotates, a solvent container on said support, and a solvent dischargemember carried by said tool and connected to said container.

7. Apparatus ofthe type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, a core support movable along the core as itrotates, a solvent container on said support, a solvent discharge membercarried by said tool and connected to said container, and means forcontrolling the discharge of solvent.

8. Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, a core support movable along the core as itrotates, a solvent container on said support, a solvent discharge membercarried by said tool and connected to said container, and means carriedby said tool for applying tension to the strip as it is wrapped aroundthe core.

9. Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, means for applying an adhesive prior to the contactof the strip with the core to bind the strip to the core, and anadjustable guide member carried by said tool for guiding said stripalongthe tool.

10. Apparatus of the type described comprising mechanism for rotating acore, means for securing one end of a strip of coating material to oneend of the core, a tool for guiding said strip to said core, in suchfashion that the strip is wrapped spirally tightly around the core asthe core is rotated, and a solvent discharge member having its dischargeOrifice maintained in position to discharge flowing solvent directlyonto at least one of the parts being assembled immediately prior to thecontact being established between the core and the strip.

JOHN N. WHITEHOUSE.

